Muppet Classic Theater
| Muppet Classic Theater | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | David Grossman |
| Written by | Jim Lewis Bill Prady |
| Starring | Muppet Performers: Julianne Buescher Dave Goelz Brian Henson Jerry Nelson Frank Oz Allan Trautman Steve Whitmire |
| Music by | Philip Balsam Dennis Lee Mark Radice Michael Silversher and Patricia Silversher |
| Studio | Raleigh Studios, Hollywood Jim Henson Home Entertainment |
| Distributed by | The Jim Henson Company |
| Release date(s) | September 27, 1994 |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
Muppet Classic Theater is a direct-to-video film featuring The Muppets that was released direct-to-video on September 27, 1994.
Contents |
Plot [edit]
It consists of six stories from the fairy tale tradition, all performed by the Muppet characters and narrated by Rizzo and Gonzo. They were previously the main characters in The Muppet Christmas Carol, performing a similar narrative role.
Three Little Pigs [edit]
In this segment, Sandy Pig (played by Miss Piggy) must protect her two naïve brothers (played by Andy and Randy Pig) from a big bad wolf and his various attempts on their lives and homes.
King Midas [edit]
King Midas (played by Kermit the Frog) spares the life of a Satyr (played by Gonzo the Great). When King Midas wants world peace, Queen Midas (played by Miss Piggy) wanted money and is granted the Golden Touch. When Queen Midas accidentally turns King Midas to gold, the Satyr tells Queen Midas that the effects of the Golden Touch can be undone if Queen Midas renounces her interest in gold.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf [edit]
The repeated overreactions of a young shepherd (played by Gonzo the Great) cause villagers to doubt his word, even when the threat of a wolf is near. When the wolf actually shows up and nobody answers the shepherd's actual cries for help, the sheep enlist their larger cousin Norman who ends up crushing the wolf. The mayor (played by Kermit the Frog) gives Gonzo a medal for "not crying wolf except when an actual wolf was present".
Rumpelstiltskin [edit]
Miss Piggy plays a miller's daughter who is brought into the services of the King (played by Kermit the Frog) where she must spin straw into gold as claimed by her attention-wanting father (played by Papa Pig) or she'll be locked up in the dungeon. She ends up receiving the assistance of Rumpelstiltskin (played by Gonzo the Great). She is forced by fate to give up her firstborn in return for the desperately needed services of Rumpelstiltskin.
The Emperor's New Clothes [edit]
The Emperor of Fozzalia (played by Fozzie Bear) is fooled into believing that his vestments are made of an invisible cloth made by some tricksters (played by Rizzo the Rat, Yolanda the Rat, and Montague the Rat). When Fozzie goes out to show his new clothes, a young boy (played by Robin the Frog) notices that the Emperor is wearing nothing but his boxers. The citizenry think that since the Emperor isn't wearing clothing and that public nudity must be the latest fad. The Emperor tells his people that they should stop doing things just because he does them, and that they should start thinking for themselves.
The Elves and the Shoemakers [edit]
A shoemaker (played by Kermit the Frog) and his nephew (played by Robin the Frog) face ruin until the Shoemaker's livelihood is saved by a group of philanthropic entertainers (played by The Elvises). Unfortunately, they can only make blue swede shoes.
NOTE: During this story, Rizzo walks onstage to speak to Kermit and Robin about a gift to give the Elvises. As Steve Whitmire was already performing Kermit, he could not puppeteer for Rizzo at the same time and Rizzo's voice is recognizably that of Dave Goelz.
Cast [edit]
Muppet Performers [edit]
- Dave Goelz - Gonzo, Randy Pig, Rizzo the Rat (additional diaglogue)
- Steve Whitmire - Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog
- Julianne Buescher - Yolanda the Rat
- Bill Barretta - Police Chief
- Brian Henson - Andy Pig
- Jerry Nelson - Robin the Frog, Big Bad Wolf, Loyal Royal Advisor, Montague the Rat
- Frank Oz - Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear
- Allan Trautman - Father Pig, Banker
Additional Muppets performed by Tim Blaney, Cheryl Blaylock, Kevin Carlson, Terri Hardin, Bruce Lanoil, Drew Massey, James Murray, Joe Selph, and Michelan Sisti
External links [edit]
- Muppet Classic Theater at Internet Movie Database
- Muppet Classic Theater at Muppet Wiki
